Legacy of the Dark Sage

When Mannick suggested splitting up earlier, Ingrid agreed because they did not know the entity's objective in coming to the island. She also did not want to get attacked by the entity and the legendary beasts on both sides.

Dealing with the Manticore while covertly checking the location where the entity was last seen, which was at the Echidna's location, was better.

Unfortunately, Mannick and Imman met the entity before getting to the Manticore. They were forced to change their target and fight the entity. As luck would have it, the Manticore joined the fray forcing Imman to run with Mannick's status unknown.

But now that Mannick had returned and apparently found the reason for the entity's appearance on the island, they could now plan a better strategy.

"So the entity is after the legendary beasts," Imman commented.

"It would coincide with its reason in going to the Shaiha Ruins," Ingrid agreed with a nod. "Its real target was probably the Quilin, and since the Templar Code defended the latter because of the rare stones, then they became the casualties."

Imman frowned, "The Templar Code suffered a lot in that incident."

"Three Grand Masters and several hundreds of Master and High Master mages," Ingrid supplied. "You two are Exalted, which are already half-a-step to becoming a Magus, what's your take of the entity's power?"

"Nothing I can't handle."

"Brute force."

Mannick and Imman replied at the same time. The two exchanged glances but did not say anything.

With a sigh, Ingrid continued, "Base on the footage provided by the Templar Code's Commander, Tritus. The entity can manifest parts of beast using his magic."

"The beast he can manifest into can be anything," Imman agreed. "If my guess is correct, its another manifestation of Beast magic."

"Humph," Mannick crossed his arms. "I don't think so."

They both look at him, with Ingrid wearing a curious expression while Imman, an annoyed one.

"Well, what do you have in mind?" He asked in a challenging tone.

"That guy is not human," Mannick replied and looked at them meaningfully. "You've seen how I look after surviving the Manticore's attack. Let's face it, you both also think my magic makes me inhuman. But when I saw that guy fighting the Manticore just now, he doesn't even have a scratch on his body. A human can't heal in such a short time."

He paused and smiled wryly before adding, "No, that's probably not right either. He probably did not need healing. His clothes are intact."

Ingrid and Imman's expressions instantly turned grim.

"Are you telling us that entity is..."

Mannick shrugged.

"It's a possibility. But if that guy's clothes are intact even after getting burned, his clothes are either a very rare higher than a saint-tier magic armor, or its part of its real self."

"... a legendary beast that can shapeshift into a human..." Ingrid muttered.

"Anyway, we are here to keep that entity from leaving," Mannick veered their discussion back on topic. "If the entity is here to deal with the other legendary beasts, then I suggest to let it do as it pleases while we set up a countermeasures around the island."

"Have you forgotten? That entity broke the Courtenay's barrier in one go. Did you think its easy to—."

"Come on, Imman. Try to use your head for once," Mannick cut him off mid-sentence.

"What did you just say—?"

With an exasperated sigh, Mannick ignored him and turned to Ingrid, "I will keep an eye on the entity while you and Imman create fortresses all around the island."

Ingrid and Imman looked at him with wide eyes, "You mean to say..?"

"If there is one thing the entity is not capable of, is anticipating long range attacks it can't see," Mannick said with a slight smile. "Combining Imman's Stone magic and your Artillery magic, create as much fortresses as possible. Once the entity is within range, bombard it with your joint attacks. It might not be enough to hurt it, but it can at least keep that guy busy."

With a slight smile, Ingrid shook her head at Mannick, "I'm surprised your letting us deal with the entity. Aren't you afraid we'll receive the Crown Princess's recognition from this?"

"Say that after we succeed. I may only be watching from the sides, but that is only because if you two messed up, I can step in and clean up your mess. Who do you think will the Crown Princess recognize then?"

"Annoying prick," Imman glared at him.

Mannick ignored him and summoned his blood-red greatsword. "Get going. Who knows how long that guy can deal with the Manticore."

"Right," Ingrid nodded and left.

"Humph," Imman harumphed, but he turned and followed Ingrid.

As soon as the two left, Mannick sighed inwardly. He looked back where Kyran and the Manticore were and sighed inwardly.

'I've bought you some time. You may do as you please, new Void Master.'

But then his expression turned grim as he thought of the outsiders. He could not sense them yet, meaning Fye was still on his way to getting them, or maybe he had not found them.

Either way, Mannick hoped those three and Kyran would not meet today. Because as he was now, he would not be able to help. The only thing he could do was restrain those three's magic.

He hoped someone would receive his inheritance before the new Void Master arrived. That was the only way he could help him.

After all, Mannick was already...

Looking up in the sky, reflected in Mannick's eyes were none other than the Sovereign's Cradle.

====================

RAWRGH!

A few minutes after Kyran performed the Sigil on the Manticore, it let out a guttural cry as it received the Sigil's mark on its forehead.

Kyran jumped down and watched the Manticore struggle to its feet before regarding him with a respective bow. It even wagged its tail like a dog.

[Oh, now that it did not have a crazed look on its eyes, it's pretty cute.]

'...'

[Now what? Are you going to use it to subdue the Chimera?]

Kyran shook his head. With a wave of his hand, a purple light enveloped the Manticore's body and vanished.

'The manticore's a he, you can refer to him as that from now on.'

[Again, with that. What's with you and 'it' anyway?]

True Void asked, recalling an incident in one of their training on a different plane where Kyran got in an argument just because one mage called its summoned beast 'it.'

Kyran shrugged, 'It just don't sit well with me. It's fine if they use it because they don't know the beast's gender, but if they use it even when they know, it just doesn't feel right...'

[Fine. Fine. Where do we go next? The Chain of Erce' should have reduced the Echidna's magic power by half now. Do you want to make it your Sigil first?]

Kyran shook his head, 'No. Not yet. I only performed the Sigil on the Manticore because he's already too weak to fight. But the Echidna is different. It would definitely not be docile.'

The truth, there was another reason why he resorted to binding the Echidna first—but telling True Void that would only make the latter panic.

As a matter of fact, the most troublesome legendary beast on the island was the Echidna. He confirmed it after its 'energy' got absorbed by the Chains of Erce'.

Because it made Kyran discover the identity of one of the 'outsiders.'

That outsider's specialty was beast reproduction, and the Echidna was one of its most remarkable creations.

The Sovereign of Savagery.

Kyran looked in the direction of the Chimera and then checked the auras on the island.

Kyran already sensed 'Mannick' joining two other auras while he was turning the Manticore into his Sigil. One of the auras Kyran recognized as Imman; the other was likely the last deputy marshal, Ingrid.

Right now, Ingrid and Imman had left, while Mannick remained.

Kyran could more or less guess that Mannick made the two leave to set up some traps or countermeasures around the island while he kept an eye on him. If this was the case, then he did not have to worry about them for now.

True Void sighed. Not wanting to drop the matter about the Echidna, he continued.

[Can't you just smack it the same way you did with the Manticore?]

'I can't control my Draconic magic yet... Actually, I don't have a full grasp of my regular strength either. I have to be careful in using my physical strength, for now, if not, I might end up really killing a potential Sigil. That will be a waste.'

[You... why do I feel all living you spare from now on will end up becoming your Sigil?]

'That's not true... I didn't make the whole Montgomeray Family my Sigil.'

[The whole what?]

'I'll explain to you later.'

With that, Kyran turned and went to the Chimera's location.